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A new study shows a link between severe, untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and the risk of high blood pressure even after using medications for high blood pressure. OSA is a common and serious sleep disorder that causes you to stop breathing during sleep.

The current study included individuals participating in the baseline examination conducted for the Heart Biomarker Evaluation in Apnea Treatment (HeartBEAT) study.
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Roses, candy or a candlelit dinner are nice, if uninspired romantic gestures that many of us fall back on during Valentine's Day. Rather than giving another forgettable gift, consider a lifestyle change that will benefit both you and your partner: gaining control of your snoring.

On Wednesday, Feb. 2, AASM President Dr. M. Safwan Badr will be educating couples on how to reduce their snoring for a better night's sleep and improved help. You and your partner are invited to participate in this pre-Valentine's Day Twitter party, Bring your questions about snoring and sleep to Twitter at 3 p.m. EST on Wednesday and use the hashtag #StopSnoring.
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The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) is advising anyone with Type 2 diabetes or hypertension to be evaluated for sleep apnea by a board-certified sleep medicine physician.

“Type 2 diabetics and people with hypertension are much more likely to have obstructive sleep apnea than other people, and as a result should immediately discuss their risk for sleep apnea with a sleep specialist,” said M. Safwan Badr, MD, president of AASM. “Diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea from a board-certified sleep medicine physician will promote improvement in these conditions – including improved insulin sensitivity, blood pressure and cholesterol."
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Melatonin supplements may improve sleep in hypertension patients who are on beta-blockers. Scientists found that three weeks of melatonin use significantly improved their sleep quality and helped them stay asleep compared with a placebo.

Patients taking melatonin increased total sleep time by 37 minutes. They also spent less time awake in bed, and fell asleep quicker. The authors of the study, published in the journal SLEEP observed that the melatonin improved sleep tolerence without the common side effects of drug tolerance or rebound insomnia.
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